A friend of mine convinced me that we should attend our high school reunion. Although we went to the same high school and knew one another by name, we didn’t become chums until we were in university. We didn’t see anyone we knew from high school except maybe in passing. All our high school buds seemed to have drifted off to other parts of town, other jobs, other schools or other cities and contact with them waned. There was no email in those days and guys don’t write letters except under protest. So we thought it might be interesting to see how those we knew and those who ran the school had fared. One of us decided we needed some stuff not sold on street corners, at least in our neighbourhoods. So, slightly tight and somewhat buzzed, we strolled into high school and found out that reunions portrayed in movies did emulate life. Maybe it was not as bizzare as that of Martin Blank (John Cusack) but then I’ve never been a freelance hit man, yet. I did see my high school sweetie and she hadn’t fared as well as Debi Newberry ( Minnie Driver ), Martin’s girl. Mine seemed happy with her three kids, her louse of a husband so we got along that evening as best as possible. But then I didn’t stand her up on prom night like Martin did. Debi is not a happy camper but maybe if Martin can prevent her dad from being taken out by another button man, she’ll come around.

Director:  George Armitage Writer:  Tom Jankiewicz; D.V. DeVincentis; Steve Pink; John Cusack Cast:
John Cusack -  Martin Q. Blank Minnie Driver -  Debi Newberry Alan Arkin -  Dr. Oatman Dan Aykroyd -  Grocer Joan Cusack -  Marcella Hank Azaria -  Steven Lardner K. Todd Freeman -  Kenneth McCullers Jeremy Piven -  Paul Spericki		Mitchell Ryan -  Mr. Bart Newberry Michael Cudlitz -  Bob Destepello Benny Urquidez -  Felix La PuBelle Duffy Taylor -  Ultimart Carl Audrey Kissel -  Arlene Carlos Jacott -  Ken Brian Powell -  Husky Man Ann Cusack -  Amy

Denial in the face of overwhelming evidence is not a smart position to take, particularly when it could affect whether you die. Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe) gets run down by a Beamer late one night and a guy wearing a sou’wester with a hook pops out and stands over him with murderous intent in his demeanour. The next day in hospital with his co-conspirators Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Barry is still denying that someone or something is out for revenge. He may want to rethink that position.

Director:  Jim Gillespie Writer:  Lois Duncan; Kevin Williamson Cast:
Jennifer Love Hewitt -  Julie James Sarah Michelle Gellar -  Helen Shivers Ryan Phillippe -  Barry William Cox Freddie Prinze Jr. -  Ray Bronson Bridgette Wilson -  Elsa Shivers Anne Heche -  Melissa ‘Missy’ Egan Johnny Galecki -  Max Neurick Muse Watson -  Benjamin Willis		Stuart Greer -  Officer David Caporizo J. Don Ferguson -  Emcee Deborah Hobart -  Mrs. James Mary McMillan -  Mrs. Cox Rasool J’Han -  Deb Dan Albright -  Sheriff Lynda Clark -  Pageant Official Shea Broom -  Contestant #1

Simon Templar (Val Kilmer) is a bold master thief and impersonator who sells his services to the highest bidder. When he is offered $8 million to steal the formula for cold fusion, he doesn’t hesitate. Off to Russia to turn it over to his employer, he is confronted in a Moscow bar by Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the formula inventor who has followed him. He is gobsmacked to discover that she would have given it to him if only he had asked for it. What he doesn’t seem to understand is her view that science should be free for everybody and one shouldn’t hoard such secrets. Too much time spent in the foggy corridors of spies and evil-doers? It seems likely.

Director:  Phillip Noyce; Philip Noyce Writer:  Leslie Charteris; Jonathan Hensleigh; Wesley Strick Cast:
Val Kilmer -  Simon Templar Elisabeth Shue -  Dr. Emma Russell Rade Serbedzija -  Ivan Tretiak Valery Nikolaev -  Ilya Tretiak Henry Goodman -  Dr. Lev Botvin Alun Armstrong -  Inspector Teal Michael Byrne -  Vereshagin, Tretiak’s Aide Evgeny Lazarev -  President Karpov		Irina Apeximova -  Frankie Lev Prigunov -  General Sklarov Charlotte Cornwell -  Inspector Rabineau Emily Mortimer -  Woman on Plane Lucija Serbedzija -  Russian Prostitute Velibor Topic -  Skinhead Tommy Flanagan -  Scarface Yegor Pozenko -  Scratchface

How often do you think that you come within seconds of losing your life? Events collide to bring together circumstances where you have a moment to decide whether your life is forfeit. A finger waggle here or there may be all that it takes. HRH ( Rupert Penry-Jones), pubbing incognito, has poured a batch of pints down his neck and has to relieve himself. One of his table mates, Stabber (Trevor Fox), has followed to do the same but in the sink and provokes a confrontation. Barry Grimes (Robson Green), as bodyguard, proffers a warning and gets a kicking for his troubles. Barry pulls a pistol and gives Stabber a choice.

Director:  Simon Curtis Writer:  Lee Hall Cast:
Robson Green -  Barry Grimes Gavin Richards -  Chief Superintendent Peter Lovstrom -  Police Driver Tara Fitzgerald -  Grace Terence Rigby -  Mr. Garter Terence Budd -  Sandy Rupert Penry-Jones -  The Prince Christopher Staines -  Adams		Graeme Garden -  The Master Mark Gough -  Hargreaves Jacqueline King -  The Master’s Wife Stephen Moore -  Dr. Rymans Danielle Tilley -  Serena Judy Cornwell -  Mrs. Quigley Katherine Porter -  Blue Stocking Duncan Ross -  Anarchist

It is a source of constant wonder to me to discover what might lure a woman into thinking that she wants to have her way with me. It doesn’t happen often but if the verbal skill of Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is anything to go by, I should have gone to law school. Miranda’s (Amanda Donohoe) look of amazement and mirth as Fletcher stretches to story of Samantha Cole’s (Jennifer Tilly) circumstances and estrangement from her husband culminates in her seduction, biting Fletcher’s lower lip and leading him away.

Director:  Tom Shadyac Writer:  Paul Guay; Stephen Mazur Cast:
Jim Carrey -  Fletcher Reede Maura Tierney -  Audrey Reede Justin Cooper -  Max Reede Cary Elwes -  Jerry Anne Haney -  Greta Jennifer Tilly -  Samantha Cole Amanda Donohoe -  Miranda Jason Bernard -  Judge Marshall Stevens		Swoosie Kurtz -  Dana Appleton Mitchell Ryan -  Mr. Allan Chip Mayer -  Kenneth Falk Eric Pierpoint -  Richard Cole Cheri Oteri -  Jane SW Fisher -  Pete Ben Lemon -  Randy Jarrad Paul -  Zit Boy

Did you ever just want to break into song in public? I sure do. I only wish I could carry a tune.

George Downes (Rupert Everett) is at a wedding rehearsal dinner with his friend Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) who is attending the nuptials of Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) and Kimmy Wallace (Cameron Diaz). He starts into “I Say a Little Prayer” and each of the guests joins in until the whole table is singing along. I don’t know about you but I was singing along with them.

Director:  P.J. Hogan Writer:  Ronald Bass Cast:
Julia Roberts -  Julianne Potter Dermot Mulroney -  Michael O’Neal Cameron Diaz -  Kimberly Wallace Rupert Everett -  George Downes Philip Bosco -  Walter Wallace M. Emmet Walsh -  Joe O’Neal Rachel Griffiths -  Samantha Newhouse Carrie Preston -  Mandy Newhouse		Susan Sullivan -  Isabelle Wallace Chris Masterson -  Scotty O’Neal Raci Alexander -  Title Sequence Performer #1 Jennifer Garrett -  Title Sequence Performer #2 Kelly Sheerin -  Title Sequence Performer #3 Bree Turner -  Title Sequence Performer #4 Cassie Creasy -  Flower Girl Lucina Paquet -  Kimmy’s Grandma

Clones here, clones there. You can move without stumbling over one somewhere. But now that Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) is back after having himself cryogenically frozen and sent into space, his associates figure he needs a family and they have artificially created his son, Scott (Seth Green), using his frozen semen. But Scott resents his father’s absence forcing the two of them to attend a Jerry Springeresque ‘fathers and sons’ group therapy session.

Director:  Jay Roach Writer:  Mike Myers Cast:
Mike Myers -  Austin Powers/Dr. Evil Elizabeth Hurley -  Vanessa Kensington Michael York -  Basil Exposition Mimi Rogers -  Mrs. Kensington Robert Wagner -  Number Two Seth Green -  Scott Evil Fabiana Udenio -  Alotta Fagina Mindy Sterling -  Frau Farbissina		Paul Dillon -  Patty O’Brien Charles Napier -  Commander Gilmour Will Ferrell -  Mustafa Joann Richter -  ’60s Model Anastasia Sakelaris -  ’60s Model Afifi Alaouie -  ’60s Model Monet Mazur -  Mod girl Mark Bringleson -  Andy Warhol

Periodically, I see a scene that is so striking it stays with me forever. Such is the case in this movie when an overhead camera pans through a room and we see Cory Luchessi (Tony Nappo) polishing the large table with cloths under his hands and under his knees swimming across the screen.

Director:  Dwight H. Little Writer:  Wayne Beach; David Hodgin Cast:
Wesley Snipes -  Detective Harlan Regis Diane Lane -  Nina Chance, Secret Service Agent Daniel Benzali -  Nick Spikings, Head White House Secret Service Agent Dennis Miller -  Detective Steve Stengel Alan Alda -  Alvin Jordan, National Security Advisor Ronny Cox -  President Jack Neil Diane Baker -  Kitty Neil, First Lady Tate Donovan -  Kyle Neil, First Son		Harris Yulin -  General Clark Tully Tom Wright -  Hal Cooper, Secret Service Agent Nicholas Pryor -  Paul Moran Charles Rocket -  Jeffrey Arthur Groves, Suicidal ICC Bureaucrat Nigel Bennett -  Burton Cash, Secret Service Agent Guarding Kyle Neil Tamara Gorski -  Ex-Girlfriend in Bar Douglas O’Keeffe -  John Kerry, Assassin Tony Nappo -  Cory Allen Luchessi, White House Janitor